Record control for billing machines



' Nov. 14, 1 933. E, K, T 1,935,043

RECORD CONTROL FOR BILLING MACHINES Filed April 7, 1932 INVENTOR. Eon A120 KIRBY BOTTLE, DEcD, BY 539A JANE BofiLE Aumlvlsreamlx.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 14, 1933 UNITED STATES 1,935,043 RECORD CONTROL FOR BILLING MACHINES Edward Kirby Bottle, deceased, late of Elmira,

- N. Y., by Sara Jane Bottle, administratrlx, Elmira, N. Y., assignor to American Sales Book Company, Limited, Toronto, Canada, a corporation of Ontario, Canada Application April '1, 1932. Serial No. 803,700

5Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in typewriting machines, billing machines and like inscribing apparatus and with reference to its more particular features it relates to an improved arrangement for supporting and controlling the records used in this class of machines.

It is a general object of the invention to prov vide for machines of the class mentioned an improved record supporting and controlling arrangement readily applicable to machines of existing construction of the flat platen type and adapting such machines for the use of continuous record supplies embodying continuous interleaved transfer material.

A further and more particular object of the invention is to provide an improved record clamping means applicable to writing machines of the flat, drop platen type so as to effectively and satisfactorily retain the record in writing position upon the platen during the entry of the writing upon the record.

A further object is to provide for machines of the type mentioned an improved supporting device for manifolding records which eliminates the necessity for separate supporting apparatus for the carbon or transfer sheets.

Another object is to provide forwriting machines of the fiat platen type, an improved record supporting and clamping device which may be applied in fixed position upon the machine and the sustaining grip upon the record released or established by a rise or fallof the platen.

Still another object is to provide an improved clamping bar for machines of the class mentioned which is simple in construction and readily applicable in operative position to existing machines of the type above referred to.

Other objects of the'invention will be in part pointed out in the following detailed description of an illustrative but preferred embodiment of the invention and will be in part obvious in Fig. 1 is a fragmentary partially diagrammaticside elevation of a billing machine equipped with the invention, parts being broken away and in section. and

Fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view showing the operative arrangement of the controlling elements for the manifolding assembly.

Fora detailed description of the illustrative embodiment reference is had to the drawing showing in a fragmentary and partially diagrammatic manner a writing or billing machine of the flat platen type. This machine, as will be understood by those skilled in the art, includes a supporting frame 5 mounted upon a' pedestal or supporting column 6 which may rest upon the floor in any convenient manner. The frame 5 provides a support for the platen 7 which is of the flat plate type and adapted for the reception and support of the record sheets or strips.

As shown, the supporting frame 5 may include two longitudinal frame members 8 spaced apart and lying parallel to each other. The longitudinal frame members are connected with each other by suitable transverse frame members, two

' of which are shown at 9 suitably connected to the longitudinal side frame members. Each side frame member 8 carries a supporting rail or track 10 upon which a typewriting machine (not shown) is mounted in a well known manner for movement in line spacing direction longitudinally of the supporting frame. The typewriting machine is thus positioned for impressing typewritten characters upon the record strips supported upon the platen '7.

As mentioned above, the platen I is mounted by the frame 5, being positioned between the longitudinal frame members 8 and having its forward and rearward ends positioned adjacent to the respective forward and rearward transverse frame members 9. The platen 7 is mounted for upward and downward movement relatively to the frame 5 and for this purpose may be mounted in any desired manner. As herein diagrammatic'ally shown, the platen '7v is provided with guiding lugs 11 positioned in vertical slots 12 formed in the opposite side frame members 8. In this manner the platen is supported and guided in its upward and downward movement.

An operating link 13 is connected to the platen and to an operating pedal 14 pivotally mounted at 15 on a bracket 16 which may be supported in any desired manner upon the supporting column or pedestal 6. Also, one or more compression springs, as indicated at 17, are connected to the platen and tensioned to tend to move the platen upwardly into its final or operative position as shown inFig. 1. I

Adjacent to the forward end of the platen 71s a transversely extending clamping bar 18 and ad- Jacent its rearward end is a similar transversely these clamping bars may be conveniently in the form of an angle bar including a depending attaching flange and a clamping flange horizontally disposed to overlie the upper surface of the platen. The forward clamping bar thus has a depending attaching flange 20 and the bar 19 is provided with a similar attaching flange 21. These attaching flanges may be provided with suitable apertures or formations 22 for the reception of the attaching bolts 23 by means of which the clamping bars may be-readily mounted in operative position upon the transverse frame members 9 as shown. The clamping flange 24 of the clamping bar 18 extends'horizontally rearwardly in position to overlie the upper surface of the platen '7 while an elongated record strip passageway or slot 25 extends longitudinally of the two flanges .thereof. This slot thus provides a passageway through which the record assembly may pass as it emerges forwardly from :writing position upon the platen. Also, the flanges are formed with grip notches or' apertures 26 positioned opposite each other at opposite sides of the passageway 25 through which the forward ends of the record assembly may be readily grasped. The forward edge of the forward clamping flange 24 may serve as a severing edge by means of which the inscribed ends of the record strips may be severed from the supply.

Similarly the record strip clamping flange 27 of the clamping bar 19 overlies the upper surface of the platen at the rearward end thereof, being bent forwardly from the attaching flange 21. Also, the rearward clamping bar 19 is formed with a longitudinally extending slot or passageway 28 for the passage of the record assembly. This passageway may be conveniently formed by slit.- ting the metal and turning out a portion thereof to form the flange 29 providing a reinforcement for the bar adjacent to the record passageway and also forming a guide for the record as it passes from the supply into writing position upon the platen. Due to this reinforcement the clamping bar may be made of relatively light material.

Clamping bars constructed as above described may be manufactured at very little cost and may be easily applied to writing machines of the flat platen type. When applied as described they provide clamping bars for the record supplies extending transversely of the platen so as to atford effective gripping arrangements for supporting and maintaining the records in correct writing position. Also, with this arrangement the gripping and holding of the record supplies are equally effective irrespective of the width of the supply and it is unnecessary that the supply be gripped along its longitudinal edges.

As shown, in Fig. 2, the record assembly 30 includes upper and lowerrecord strips of the long continuous traveler type and an intermediate carbon or transfer strip also of the long continuous type. Any desired number of strips arranged in this manner may beassembled and rolled or folded into a supply packwhich may be housed and supported in any convenient manner upon the machine. This manifolding record assembly may be led forwardly in the path indicated by the dot and dash lines of Fig. 2 from the supply pack through the passageway 28 under the clamping flanges 2'7 and 24 and over the platen with the forward end thereof emerging through the passageway 25. The supply may be threaded in position as described when the platen is depressed b depressing the pedal 14. The

record assembly having been thus positioned upon the platen, the pedal is released whereupon the platen is caused to rise by action of the springs 17, thus gripping the record supplies along transverse lines between the upper surface of the platen and the respective clamping flanges 24 and 2'1. In this manner the record iassembly is maintained in flat, smooth condition upon the platen, free from wrinkles or air pockets so that the inscriptions may be fully and legibly entered upon the upper strip and transferred to the lower strip or strips by action of the transfer sheet.

Since certain changes may be made in the above construction and difierent embodiments.

of the invention could be. made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted. as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired 'to secure by Letters Patent, is:

,1. In a writing machine, in combination, a platen mounted for rising and falling movement, means for efiecting such platen movement, and a transverse clamping bar extending across said platen adjacent to a surface thereof and transversely of the record path thereon so as to clamp said record in writing position upon said platen, said clamping bar having a depending attaching flange by which it is attached in operative position to the machine, and said bar having a slot between the clamping and attaching parts thereof forming a record passageway.

2. In a writing machine, in combination, longitudinal side frame members providing supports for a typewriting machine, a flat platen mounted for rising and i'alling movement and positioned between said side frame members, means for eflecting rising and falling movement of said platen, and transverse clamping bars extending across said platen adjacent to a surface thereof and transversely of the path of the record so as to clamp said record in writing positionupon the platen, one of said clamping bars being positioned at each end of the platen and having a slot forming a passageway for the record.

3. A clamping barfor writing machines of the flat platen type, said bar having a record clamping flange and an angularly disposed attaching and supporting flange, and being provided with an elongated record passageway slot extending longitudinally of the bar.

4. A clamping bar for writing machines of the flat platen type, said bar having a record clamping flange and an angularly disposed attaching and supporting flange, and being provided with an elongated record passageway slot extending longitudinally of the bar, said clamping bar having a longitudinal'reenforcing flange extending. along said passageway slot.

5. A clamping bar for writing machines of the flat platen type, said bar having arecord clamping flange and an angularly disposed attaching and supporting flange, and being provided with an elongated record passageway slot extending SARA JANE BOTTLE, Administratriz' of the Estate of Edward Kirby Bottle, Deceased. 

